New data shows Lethbridge had the third highest Crime Severity Index (CSI) in the country in 2022. Statistics Canada gives the score to census metropolitan areas, which for Lethbridge includes Coaldale and Picture Butte.
Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh points out the ranking includes only CMAs with a population over 100,000 — and when including all communities over 10,000 people, Lethbridge ranks number 36.
In 2021, the city was at the top of the list
“The CSI for Lethbridge decreased eight per cent from 2021, this equates to a five per cent decrease in our overall crime in this city,” Mehdizadeh said. “We still have a lot of work to do but I am very proud to call this community my home as we are moving certainly towards a good direction.”
He said Lethbridge ranks number six for violent crimes, which were up by one per cent since 2021. It ranks second for non-violent crimes and Mehdizadeh these are the ones that drive crime rates and the CSI up, specifically break and enter.
“The highest spike in the crime we have seen, based on our analytical work, has been in the last year, the downtown zone of Lethbridge. Other areas, we have seen decrease,” he said. “When you talk about violent crimes, these crimes are typically within the population who know each other and they are not really targeting innocent citizens out there just as they are walking out on the street—it is mostly connected with people who know each other.”
He added he stands by his belief Lethbridge is a safe city to live in and it is important to look at what crimes drive the high CSI score and he points to opportunity crimes as a significant factor.
“When you look at the statistics, they speak for themselves, this city is becoming safer every year. Having said that, we still have a lot of work to do because we still want to continue to that downward trend with our CSI and the encouraging news today is that as crime and the CSI is increasing across the country and in the province, we are showing a downward trend in both those categories, which is significant,” he said.
Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said he also believes Lethbridge is safe, but added there is a lot of work to be done. He said he want to advocate for changes in the judicial system.
“Our officers do their work — they take these perpetrators in and many of the times, these officers are back rearresting that same offender time and time again. That’s not a result of the officers not doing their work, we have heard that far too often,” he said. “They are doing their jobs, it’s the system above that is truly broken and it’s something we need to make sure that we work on and we advocate for better resources for that judicial system.”
